Our safari vehicle climbed into the Soutpansberg Mountains, passing ancient 2,000-year-old acacia trees, rugged red cliffs, and striped kudu grazing on the shrubs. With each bend in the road, excitement grew for our South Africa glamping experience at Few & Far Luvhondo, Sarah and Jacob Dusek’s impressive comeback to outdoor hospitality following the sale of Under Canvas in 2018. Instead of their prior model of establishing glamping sites near well-known national parks, they selected a secluded area in Limpopo, referred to as “The Forgotten Mountains.”
Even though the Soutpansberg Range is rich in biodiversity, home to numerous rare and endemic species within the UNESCO Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, it has been quietly suffering from deforestation and mining, not to mention the looming threats of proposed industrial development. Tackling ecosystem restoration, alongside combatting mining interests and government red tape, is an enormous challenge, but if you’ve read Sarah’s book, Thinking Bigger: A Pitch-Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World…she’s definitely up for the task.
Welcome to Few & Far
The entrance of Few & Far Luvhondo greeted us with African drumbeats, a tray of lychee lemonade, fragrant warm hand towels, and friendly smiles. Giselle, the GM, guided us to the main building, which featured a canvas design that wrapped around a tree, reflecting the shape, strength, and timeless grace of the baobab. The Limpopo Province, and specifically this site, is home to some of the largest baobab trees in Southern Africa. These “Trees of Life” deeply inspire the Duseks’ designs and Few & Far’s strong sense of location.
Behind the Scenes: The dining area’s canvas canopy was missing the necessary opening, so co-founder Jacob was called upon to make the daring cut to fit it around the tree. Transforming a design hiccup into a family endeavor, it was eventually placed with the assistance of the Duseks’ two teenage sons!
Cliff Suites
Giselle escorted us to our cliff suite, a C-curved canvas and wood structure offering breathtaking views from both sides. She pointed out the Few & Far field guide and binoculars on the desk, saying, “Watch for giraffe, nyala, and zebra; they are often spotted along the valley floor.” I envisioned embarking on a safari right from our outdoor shower, clawfoot tub, and luxurious canopy bed, and couldn’t help but grin.
After wishing us a wonderful stay, the hospitality continued with a handwritten note on the cocktail-and-espresso bar: “Welcome to Few & Far Luvhondo, we’re thrilled you’ve arrived in our forgotten mountains. We hope you’ll feel at home, discover a bit of magic in the wild, and perhaps carry it with you upon your departure.”
Dining with Purpose
Lunch was served by the infinity pool with a special guest, Dr. Dawn Cory Toussaint, Few & Far’s resident ecologist and reserve manager. With an ambitious vision to protect, rewild, and restore a contiguous 100,000 hectares of the Soutpansberg Mountains, Dawn was one of the first hires in 2021. Small and cheerful, she’s not the typical image you’d expect behind the excavator removing invasive species or clearing out hundreds of poaching snares, but like all the women in Sarah’s circle, she is not to be underestimated. While enjoying a delightful lunch of beetroot gnocchi and wood-fired pizzas made with farm-fresh veggies, Dawn shared some exciting news…
Conservation Goals & Achievements
Thanks to the efforts of Few & Far and the Endangered Wildlife Trust, 11,000 hectares of the Soutpansberg Mountains recently received formal environmental protection, and an additional 25,000 hectares are scheduled for protection later this year. We raised our glasses in celebration and admiration of Few & Far’s 50-year vision to preserve a mountain range and sequester 100,000 tons of carbon each year.
Behind the Scenes: A $100 per person per day conservation fee is included in a guest’s stay, which supports Few & Far’s carbon offsetting programs and ecosystem restoration initiatives. For those wanting to make a tangible difference, guests may join the “Conservationist for a Day” program, which involves rewilding and carbon capture by removing invasive species and planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses.
Female Empowerment
“Are you ready for your afternoon game drive?” asked a young woman dressed in shades of green. With Sarah continuing her role as managing partner of Enygma Ventures, an investment fund for African female entrepreneurs, it’s fitting that she employed Lizzie as a safari guide. Lizzie spent her childhood eating meals at a nature reserve’s soup kitchen but began staying longer each day to volunteer and gain knowledge about the environment. Her diligent
